Calyx & Teebee - Fabriclive 76

Calyx & Teebee - Fabriclive 76
Over time Calyx & Teebee have become poster-boys for powerhouse drum & bass, balancing macho aggression with a nimble sense of rhythm. Calyx's 2005 LP No Turning Back was a masterpiece of the form. The two have since tapped into a more accessible sound, as seen on 2012's pop-baiting All Or Nothing, and they've been bubbling just under the surface of mainstream success for a few years now. The Brit and the Norwegian seem well overdue for a Fabriclive mix, and their entry sits nicely next to Noisia and DJ Hazard's, presenting some of the most guttural moments of the series. But instead of mindlessly bashing it out, Calyx & Teebee deliver a careful study in tension-and-release.

Though it begins with Calyx & Teebee's thrashing remix of Skream & Friction's "Kingpin," overall Fabriclive 76 showcases a relatively relaxed style of mixing, where demarcations between tracks are clear and dynamics are preserved. There are plenty of clear highlights, including punishing selections from Calyx & Teebee themselves and like-minded brutality from Teddy Killerz. Funkier numbers, like Xtrah's lean-and-mean "Compulsive," let the mix stop for a breath. The ever-versatile Break emerges as the mix's unexpected star, with his limber production style bridging the gaps between heavier numbers and lighter ones.

There's a particularly floaty moment in the middle of Fabriclive 76, where the pressure seems to fall away entirely. It starts with Chris.SU's killer old-school anthem "Solaris VIP" and continues through to Calyx & Teebee's remixes of Syron and Michael Woods, two saccharine vocal tracks that coast forward on trance synths. By Fabriclive standards, they're both pretty cheesy, a far cry from Teebee's early breakbeat science or even the visceral brutality of peak Calyx, but it's still hard not to be impressed by their sheer beauty. These tunes hint at where the duo's heads are at these days, and also prove their versatility. Sure enough, the pounding drums make a return with the Noisia collaboration "Hyenas." By mastering this art of push-and-pull for a sound that usually just gives a big ol' shove, Calyx & Teebee have delivered a nicely unpredictable drum & bass mix.